Catherine Fox Milian's mother founded the original Chic Parisien bridal boutique in Coral Gables, Florida, in 1969; since then, the shop has grown into an international bridal destination. Here, Millian dishes her top wedding dress shopping secrets:

Brides: Tell us about your store.

Catherine Fox Milian: We're the only shop in South Florida that carries Monique Lhuillier. And 60 percent of our customers come from South America—we get brides from all over Central America and the Caribbean.

Brides: What's a perennially popular silhouette?

About nine years ago, when we got our first strapless dress in the store—it was by Amsale—we all thought, No one is going to buy that! Now, when a bride asks to try on a style that's not strapless, we actually struggle to find a wide-enough selection.

Brides: What's a silhouette that's tricky to pull off? Empire-waist dresses. The skirt begins under the bustline and just hangs from there—it's not very flattering on most people.

As for where to go in South Florida while you're wedding dress shopping, here are Millian's suggestions:

Mani-pedi: Elemis Spa "The facials, hand and foot treatments, and massages are great for pre-wedding pampering."

Celebratory Drinks: Mariposa "This restaurant on the third floor of Coral Gables' Neiman Marcus store is an elegant place for a glass of champagne."